Electrolytic apparatus for electrolysis of metallic salts.



No. 878,425. PATENTED FEB. 4, 1908. W. H. RINBS.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS FOR ELBGTRQLYSIS 0P METALLIC SALTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

q Vi/ Meowo K17! 92 728415 No. 878,425. PATENTEDFEB. 4, 1908.

W. H. RINES. ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS FOR BLEOTROLYSIS 0P METALLIC SALTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

QN Q i N\ N l To all whom it may particularly pointed out in .consists of certain novel WILLIAM HENRY RINES. OF RUMFORD FALLS, MAINE.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS FOR ELECTROLYSIS 0F EETALLIC SALTQ.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1908. 7

Application filed June 17. @907- Serial No. 379.427.

concern: I

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HENRY RINES, a subject of the Kin of Great Britain, residing at Rumford F 211 s, in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Electrolytic Apparatus for Electrolysis of Metallic Salts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to new and useful improvements in electrolytic apparatus for electrolysis of metallic salts, and more es ecially for solutions of the alkaline chlo- In describing my invention I will refer to it for the purpose of this specification as aplied for electrolyzing solutions of sodium chlorid, or common salt, with the products of chlorin gas and caustic soda. in all cloctrolyzing apparatus of whatever type designed for'the electrolysis of metallic salts, one of the chief object-s sought to be accomplished is to prevent the intermingling of the anodes and cathode products, the elliciency of the process depending to a great extent on the thorou hness with which the same is accomplished and one of the main objects oi m invention is to )rovide an improved cell w icrcin the cathode product is moved by gravity from the sphere of electrolytic action and to so construct the apparatus that the caustic soda falls away freely from the cathode plate as rapidly as formed, thus preventing a dill'usion of the same into the anode chamber.

With these objects in view, the invention features of concombination and arrangement of fully described and the appended struction, parts as will be more claims.

- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a. plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention: Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line L---2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view of the cathode plate.

As shown in the drawings, and in accordance with the invention, 1 indicates a suitable tank or receptacle of preferably rectangular form. A plate having decp corrugations, preferably V-shaped in cross section, is arto a point adjacent tank or receptacle,

ranged horizontall m and near the bottom and extends entire y across and from one end the opposite end of said leaving a space, 3, between one end of the late and the adjacent end of the tank. This plate constitutes the cathode of the a paratus and is secured in position to the si es ar one end of the tank or other receptacle by angle irons or plates 4 to insure a good electrical contact therewith.

The top of said plate is coated with a non conducting cement or aint, so as to insulate that particular part 0 the same, and is per forated between its insulated parts, the' urpose of which will be shown.

A diaphragm, 5, substantially conforming with the corrugations of said cathode'pla'te',

and preferably in the form of a sheet of asbestos aper, is arranged above said late and divi es the tank into anode and cat ode chambers, 6 and 7, respectively. A vertical late 8 is bolted or otherwise fastened to the rec end of said cathode plate and extends entirely across the tank or receptacle. The sides and the end of said tank or other race tacle, adjacent the fixed end of said catho 0 plate, and said plate 5, are provided with linings 9, preferably of acid-resistin nonconductin cement, which bear en tire side and end ed es of said diaphragm and thereby securely lirild it in p0sition.- i

A horizontall r dis osed cover 10 rests on and is su porte by t he ledges formed by the upper Gt ges of the linings 9 and entirely covers the anode chamber. -Said cover 15 provided with a transverse series of longitudinally alined vertical openings or apertures, 11, through which work or pass up right supporting or lead-in rods, 12, prefer-- lower ends of each ably of gra bite, to the 13 in the form of two of whic 1 is an anode,

an oblong graphite block oi preferably V- form in cross section. These anodes are arranged 1n longitudinal series and work m the the corrugations of the cathode plate.

A conductor wire, 14, leads to the apparas tus and is provided with a transverse series 0 parallel branch conducting wires, 15, which contact with the upper or free ends of the upright supporting or lead-in rods, 12, of said anodes. A conductor wire, 16, also communicatcs with the cathode plate at a suitable point.

in practice the anode chamber is filled with a solution of sodium chlorid, and the cathode chamber filled with water up to withing on '.c soda solu ion in is chamber, and also cum to retard the difiu- '38 and scpuratc uent olc into sodiui'n and chlorin being an nt, apps, at tho posichamber, from which it ug'h an opening l7 formed The olcnio'ni' sodium ap- Whorc it noted on by tho ough the din ragin and with the hocrntion of j to the construction of the cnthodc is sodium hydra-lo permitted to ill to the bottom oi tho tank or rcsvhcro is allowed to concentrate cache" the desired density, when. it may be withdrawn by n'ieans o'i-un overflow pipe, 18

through one side of tho tank of n suitnblov point above the cathode pinto and conimunicntcs with tho anode chnn'ibcr.

This pipc 1 serves to conihict the dilute brmo from tho l l l 4-5 anode chamber.

it is thou ht that from tho forc onw' (lo- T h *7 scription, taken in connection with lilo nccompanyinp' drawings, tho construction um! operation of-tbo invention will ho I'ondllV understood Without requiring, n, snoro oxte'ndct zxplanation.

Having described my invention, i claim:

scribed, the combination of s roroptnclo and a cathode plate having (loop if-shiipod corrugations in cross section arr-sngwl' in snid receptacle. 2. in scribed, o csthod tions in I 'tbcrein,

the combination of n rocoptaclc, i, into having (loop 's shn 'nnl corrugaor snodisphrngin of n-sbostos, suban spparzitus of tho chin-actor dc- 1 section nrrnngcd horizontally 1 stzmtially conforming with said plate, airtions in cross section, insulated portions and perforated between said insulated portions maintained horizontally therein, and a diaphragm of asbestos conforming substantially with the shape of said plate arranged above the some.

4;. In an apparatus of the char-actor doscribccl, the combination n recep lo, s cathode plate having deep if-shaped corrugations in cross section, insulated portions and perforated between said portions nioinlnincd horizontally therein, a diaphragm of nshostos conforming substantially with said p 2 is arranged over the some, and means for scouring scid diaphiagzn in position.

5. In an apparatus of tho chsrncto l scribed, the combination of a receptacle, n corrugated cathode pinto having msulstod portions and pcrfornt-cd bctwccn said por-- tions extending entirely across and from our end to a. point adjacent the opposite end ol said receptacle, a Vertical plate secured to tho free end of said cathode plate and extending entirely across said roceptaclo, and ii diaphragm conforming substantially 'lDll tho shapc of said cathode pinto arrs-ngod ovci the same, with means for securing said (liar phrsgin in position. i

6. in an apparatus of tho charnctcr dcscribod, the combination of a iwcoptnolo, a,

corrugated cuthodopluto maintained horizontally therein, and n plurality oi nnodcs arranged in trunsvcrso and longitudinal :Llinomcnt maintained in said remeoptnclc nbovo said csithodo plate and working in tho corrugations thcrool'.

7. in an apparatus of tho charactcr do scribed, the combination of n reccptnolo, a cathode plato having (loop V-shnpcd corrugntions in cross scction, insulated portions and pcrl'orntcd botwcon said portions innintsincd horizoi'itz'illy thorcin, s diaphragm conforming substantially with tho shapo oi said cnthoilc phitc nmintuincdhorizontally 2tl)OV( l'lH. SHHU, and n plurality of iuiodos ol" V- shzi d form in cross soction maintained in 1 sci-1 rocoptziclv nbovo snid csthodo pinto and 1.. in an apparatus oi the ohnructor lo- 1 arr-winged longitudinally in tho corrugations thcrool.

in tcstimony whcrcol' l hnvc horcunto sot my hand in prosonro of two subscribing witnossos.

WILLIAM l l'lhl it 1' ill ES.

i /itnossos G. M. GARNER, ll. l liEoAnUs. 

